Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell aren't really this bad are they? I like when they play well more than when they don't play well (Swagger Leslie from Hell )

No, they're not this bad, but Schwarber is a good reminder of the Aaron Judge hype train situation. As is Greg Bird a bit. Obviously injuries play a part in both situations, but these guys aren't concrete, finished products just because they're crushing for a while. (Craig Goldstein)

Your colleagues in the Flags Fly Forever podcast are eyeballing Tommy Joseph as a 30 HR player without killing your average. Given the shallowness of the position do you believe he will sneak his way into the top 10 of 1B? Who would you rather for the next 3 years: Joseph or Greg Bird?(Punchoutpappy from First in Flight)

I'd prefer Joseph to Bird due to Bird's health concerns. I liked Bird a lot before the injury, though. Not sure Joseph will quite sneak into the Top 10, but it's certainly possible, and I do like him for 30 HR and a .250+ average if he's healthy. (Scooter Hotz)

Is it apparently clear that the Yankees wont commit to any long term big contracts to get ready for Harper and Machado?(David from NY)

There's zero guarantee that Harper, Machado or any of the other potential names in that free agent class actually reach the open market, but I think the signing of Matt Holliday to a short-term deal revealed a lot about what Cashman is planning to do. The big question is how their prospect haul pans out. We have a pretty good idea that Gary Sanchez is a core performer. Are Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier too? What about guys like Greg Bird, Aaron Judge, etc...Tons of variables to consider, but you have to love the position the Yankees have put themselves in long-term. (George Bissell)

How confident are you with Greg Bird going into next year. Looks like he has the 1B job with Austin struggling. What full season numbers do you see him putting up? Does .265 25-30HR seem reasonable?(Brad from NJ)

I think 25-30 home runs could be a stretch right away. I would be extremely skeptical of Bird heading into 2017, but long-term, I think he has a legitimate shot to win that job if he can avoid the disabled list for extended stretches. (George Bissell)

Is Greg Bird as good as he looked last year? Will the Yankees trust him with the job when Teixeira hits free agency next year?(Ratt from Brooklyn)

probably not quite that good, but good enough that he likely inherits the job assuming his injury recovery goes well. Then again, if there was any team that should consider Jose Bautista's demands... (Jeffrey Paternostro)

I'm a sad Yankees fan today. What do you think about us in 2016? How do we work Greg Bird in the lineup with a healthy Tex, plus A Rod at DH? What about Aaron Judge in the outfield rotation? Does Rob Refsnyder start at 2B? Do we hit the free agent market or make any trades?(Howard from Bottom of a bottle)

I think a lot of the older guys performing this year was unexpected and not something I'd bank on in 2016. So yeah, get Bird in there somehow (is Tex gonna be healthy?) and Judge should be ready as well. (Sahadev Sharma)

Can you think of any hitters/pitchers in the minors who either are perfect or bad fits for the major league clubs home ball parks? I.e., left-handed power hitter in a good park for left-handed power.(Timmy from Alaska)

Manaea and Oakland work well. I think Miguel Castro may work well in Colorado. Nick Williams and Alfaro will probably both do well in CBP. Greg Bird and Yankee Stadium a fit. (Al Skorupa)

It's a little closer than some might think? But I'd still go with Piscotty; mainly because of the positional value. I really like Greg Bird, though, and I'm glad he's playing well. (Christopher Crawford)

I saw Greg Bird was called up to AAA - does he get a september call up? If/when do you think he's a regular on the big league squad?(Chuck from NJ)

Certainly possible, though he's limited to first base so unless Teixeira was to get hurt, he's probably not playing a ton. I think he's someone's first baseman by the end of 2016. (Christopher Crawford)

Thoughts on prospects who are in systems where the major league club is more likely to sign/trade for a vet or star than give shots to rookies unless studs?
ie- LA gives Joc a chance, but likely not A Guererro , Wsh with guys like Roark, Cole, T Jordan.
Should we de-value those prospects or just hope for trades?(Keith Osik from Squatting)

You have to devalue them somewhat, yes. A guy like Aaron Judge or Greg Bird also gets knocked down given the Yankees history with young players as well. (Mike Gianella)

Of course I don't expect you to offer thoughts on all of these guys, but since I don't know who you got a look at, I hope you'll excuse me listing several you might have info on: Greg Bird, Michael Gettys, Magneuris Sierra, Gilbert Lara.
Thanks!(Andrew from St. Louis)

Bird- keeps hitting, but I'm still not sold. Passive approach, no real defensive value, swing can get long
Gettys- phew, tools, man. Guy has a legit 8 arm, 7 speed, plus raw pop. But, I'm not sold he can hit with that swing. His bat is not in the zone for very long.
Lara- kind of a weird, choppy swing. First movement is down toward his back hip, but he makes it work. Unbelievably strong, but he won't be able to hit anything above the belt, so the plate disc will have to be an asset.

I haven't seen Sierra yet, but should get plenty of looks at him in the MWL this year. (Jordan Gorosh)

What should we make of Greg Bird's fall league? What is a reasonable expectation for him in the majors when he is ready? (Morrsco from Atlanta)

I don't make much of fall league stats, honestly. When he's ready, he's a second-division first baseman who could play up in Yankee Stadium, if the Yankees give him the job. Dangerous to project contextual factors into the future, though. (Ben Carsley)

Simliar question about Greg Bird and the AFL. I read your eyewitness report. Yankees fans may look at him and see Mark Teixeira 2.0 ... that may be insane, but my question is that his stats seem to be better than a 45 OFP second division player?(Pete from Detroit)

Bird is an interesting one. I think it is safe to say I would be on the lower end when it comes to valuing Bird. When I saw him at Double-A, it was a first-base only prospect with average bat speed and a swing that was more brauny than fast-twitched. I had concerns about the discipline against off-speed. However, this was my snapshot in that series, and I have talked to other scouts and BP members that had varying opinions on Bird. This is the most interesting aspect of player evaluation, as we all see players at different stages and are likely to have differing opinions. I have grown on Bird even since reading that report, but I still think he is more of a second division talent rather than a truly impact 1B.

Greg Bird impressed in the AFL, but I've heard some less than glowing things from prospect experts. What do you see in his future?(Alex from Anaheim)

I think Bird is going to struggle to hit top line pitching on a consistent basis. I think there's enough there with his pitch recognition and strike zone knowledge, and some natural bat to ball ability, for him to be a second division type or platoon player, but I wouldn't peg him as an everyday slugging first baseman. (Mark Anderson)

Has Greg Bird's performance in the AFL changed our outlook for him?(Jim from NY)

Not mine. I still view him as a guy with legit raw power but a passive approach and a swing that is more muscled than toolsy. Not a fast twitch swing and I don't love the bat speed. He's not athletic enough to play anywhere outside of 1B. I guess you could move him to the corner OF, but that doesn't mean a team should. Could be a second division type, but I don't envision anything more. (Tucker Blair)

Can Greg Bird be the next Yankees first baseman? His power grew as the season went on, so maybe the back was fully healed up. Strikes out a little too much, but he's got a great eye and some good tools, right?(Mike from New York)

I am not as high on Bird as others. I have a report in the database waiting to be published, but here is a teaser from it:

"Bird is a first-base only type, but could show second-division skill. His approach is the best asset of his game and he could be a high OBP type, which will help play up the hit tool and power. He does not have impact tools, but can hold his own.
He just reached Double-A, and could use another year to see more advanced pitching. The approach is good, but he needs to work on keeping the swing more consistent and staying back on the slower secondary stuff." (Tucker Blair)

Greg Bird has shown a lot more power in Eastern League than he did in the Florida, but the average and on-base stats are lower (albeit in a small sample). What do you think of him as a prospect and what kind of player does he project to be at the next level? Thanks. (Jax from Outworld)

I'm not a prospect guy, but Jeff Moorewrote that he thinks he ought to fall somewhere between platoon bat and regular. (R.J. Anderson)